BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 659, 17 May 1870, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

ARRIVALS. Geetmoutii. —May 15 Waipara, from Westport. Neison.—May 14—Kennedy, from Westport. THE LOSS OF TIIE SCREW-STEAMER TASSO. EEAEFUL SUFFERINGS or the CREW. We append some further important particulars respecting the- loss of the steamer Tasso, Cummings, which sailed from Sunderland on the morning of the Ith iust., for Hamburg, to proceed from that port to the Baltic. On her passage she encountered a succession of gales from S.E., accompanied with terrific seas. After contending with the elements for three days, she sprang a leak, which the engines for some time were able to keep down. The pressure, however, grew worse, and at length forced the small coals into the pipes, choaking up the pumps. Encouraged by the captain and Air Moore, the chief engineer, the other engineers waded through the water f o the pipes, and disconnecting and clearing them again got the engines to work, the water, however, still gaining on the ship. As the last resource, tlie engineers determined to open the valves and let. the water run into the ballast tanks, with a view of clearing the engine-room and stoke hole of water. This relief was only temporary, as the water gained rapidly on the ship. After remaining till up to the breast in water the men found the fires were put out, and the engineers and firemen were obliged to leave the engine room and stoke hole for the deck. The crow had by this time become quite exhausted, and faint hopes wore then entertained of saving their lives in boats. Captain Cummings, however, rallied his crew, and his boat was launched, but it was broken to pieces like matchwood by the dosl ructivc waves. The lifeboat, was launched, when part of her tackling gave way. She was also stove and had several planks broken. Gebrge Seymour, seaman, who was engaged in launching the boat, received a severe blow on the head, and was knocked overboard. The captain and one of the crew, however, succeeded in rescuing him, more dead than nlive. Bedclothing was obtained, and the leak in the boat stopped. Several of the crew got into her, not without difficulty, and put off from the ship. A third boat was launched, and the remainder of the surviving crew got into it. All the efforts of the captain could not induce the other fivo men to abandon the sinking ship, as they preferred remaining in her to risking their lives in such a sea in a small boat. Shortly after the last boat shoved off tho steamer went down, carrying with her tho five seamen.

The poor man Seymour was supposed to bo (load before Uio vessel foundered. After remaining in the boats for about an hour, during which they frequently passed portions of ihe wreck, and also the dead body of tho mute, in a sitting posture on a piece of tho wreck, to which he was actually frozen, tho fifteen survivors wore picked up by the smack Elbe, of Bremerhaven, and landed at Grimbsy on Friday afternoon. They have since arrived in Sunderland.— Shields Gazelle.